A 26-year-old local man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and three other people, a 20-year-old woman and two men aged 21 and 25 were also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Police revealed that Mr Khan, who was married, was working as a delivery driver and had made a number of drops in the North Yorkshire area.

According to his schedule he had also been due to make a delivery in Easingwold, but it is not known why he was still in the area in the early hours.

An off-duty police officer discovered Mr Khan in the driver’s seat of his van in the town’s Long Street around 2.30am.

He was taken to York District Hospital where he underwent emergency treatment but died later that day.

Detective Chief Inspector Heather Pearson, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “This is a tragic incident for Mr Khan’s family and specially trained officers are supporting them at this extremely difficult time.

“At this stage, there are a number of lines of enquiry that are being progressed. One aspect of the investigation is that this may have been an unprovoked, racially motivated attack. However, I am keeping an open mind about the motive.”

She added: “At this time a murder weapon has not been found and I am appealing to members of the public in Easingwold to report any discarded objects – be that weapons or clothing – to the police.

“I am also keen to establish the movements of Mr Khan. He was driving a white Europcar Ford Transit van and it is believed that he may have been in and around Easingwold for a period of hours prior to his murder.

“I am anxious to identify where he has been and who he has been with during this time frame.”